The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
August 2008

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The Information about Ireland Site Newsletter
August 2008
The Newsletter for people interested in Ireland
Now received by over 50,000 people worldwide
http://www.ireland-information.com
http://www.irishnation.com
Copyright (C) 2008
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IN THIS ISSUE
=== Foreword
=== News Snaps from Ireland
=== New free resources at the site
=== 'The Diary of a Scullery Maid' by Joe Rogers
=== The origin of Irish Whiskey and other matters
by J Herbert Silverman
=== The origin of Irish Pub-Signs
=== Mother Moore and her Summerhill Drainage Gang
by Pat Watson
=== Ireland House-Swap
=== Gaelic Phrases of the Month
=== Shamrock Site of the Month: Celticattic.com
=== Monthly free competition result
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FOREWORD
========
Ireland has been very wet this month! Perhaps the
wettest on record. Flooding is once again a
problem with calls being made for new drainage
systems to prevent this becoming an annual event.
Many thanks again to Pat Watson for another of his
'lyrical yarns' which happens to tell the tale of
a drainage gang. We could use them now!
Until next month,
Michael
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=======================
NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
=======================
DUBLIN CITY CENTRE BEING CLEANED UP
Recent reports have highlighted the progress
being made in cleaning up the Irish capital
city. An intensive anti-litter campaign on
billboards and television has also proved
successful in reducing the once awful litter
problem that plagued Dublin's streets.
City centre businesses are getting in on the act
too with a contribution of 3 M.illion euro to
assist the Council in removing graffitti and
installing landscaping. The novel initiative also
provides a number of 'street ambassadors' who will
clean up litter and graffitti within an hour of the
problem being reported. 15 M.illion euro will be
contributed over the next 5 years by 200 businesses
who have been hurt by the expansion in the
number of suburban retail centres such as those
located at Liffey Valley and Blanchardstown.
AN IRISH SUMMER: FREAK WEATHER AND LANDSLIDES
One of the wettest Irish Summers ever has produced
flooding and landslides in vulnerable parts of the
country. Dublin city was spared the worst of the
flooding but several country towns including
Carlow suffered badly as local rivers broke their
banks and ancient underground drainage pipes proved
unable to handle the huge amount of rainwater.
Landslides in County Kerry polluted drinking water
sources to further complicate the misery.
DROP IN THE RATE OF IMMIGRATION
The rate of immigration has dropped by
26,000 in the year to the end of April according
to the Central Statistics Office. Anecdotal
evidence of eastern European workers heading back
home in the wake of the economic downturn appears
to be backed up the numbers. Nearly 84,000 people
settled in the country during the period
mentioned compared with nearly 100,000 the
previous year. 45,000 emigrated during this
timespan leaving the population at 4.42 M.illion.
Australia has emerged as the new destination of
choice for Irish emigrants with over 11,000 moving
'down under'.
HOUSE PRICES CONTINUE TO SLIDE
The combination of an overheated market, an
economic downturn and the 'credit crunch' has
combined to provide a 'perfect storm' for the Irish
housing market. Already reeling from the huge
reduction in construction activity as a result of
falling demand, the lack of credit being made
available by banks has thus far hampered any
possibility of a recovery in the ailing housing
market.
There is hope for the market however as well as
for the Irish economy. The recent fall in the cost
of oil has combined with an increase in the value
of the US Dollar (a huge issue for Ireland). The
shock news that Germany (the worlds fourth largest
economy) may be heading into a recession has
prompted speculation that the European Central
Bank will be forced to abandon its anti-inflation
high interest rate policy in favour of cutting the
4.25% rate in order to stimulate the economy. With
the possibility that the US Federal Reserve may
actually increase rates to combat inflation on
that side of the Atlantic, the convergence of the
two interest rates will surely help the ailing
dollar relative to the stronger euro. This will
help the Irish economy and thus the construction
sector, if it happens.
House prices have now fallen for 16 months in a
row although the rate of decline has slowed (0.6%
decline in June). House prices are down 5% in 2008
to date and 10% in the last year. While this is a
serious decline by any standard it is not quite
the utter collapse that some economic commentators
had predicted, prompting speculation that the
bottom of the trough may be near. The law of
'supply and demand' rules in economics however and
once any unsold housing units are disposed of then
the market is bound to recover. Some brave
speculators are already using the current downturn
to seek out bargains in the expectation of a
recovery by the end of 2009.
3 MEDALS FOR IRELAND AT OLYMPIC GAMES
Ireland's boxers have once again fought their way
to the rescue of the Irish Olympic team with 2
bronze medals and 1 silver medal. The silver might
well have been gold for Dubliner Ken Egan but for
some erratic scoring by the ringside judges.
Although delighted with his medal the Neilstown
man agreed with independent observers that he
should have been awarded more scores than he was
actually given in the 11-7 defeat he suffered at
the hands of his Chinese opponent in the final.
Darren Sutherland and Paddy Barnes were both well
beaten in their quarter-final bouts but still did
their sport and their country proud. The trio
arrived back in Dublin airport to a great welcome.
Voice your opinion on these news issues here:
http://www.ireland-information.com/newsletterboard/wwwboard.html
==============================
NEW FREE RESOURCES AT THE SITE
==============================
IRELAND HOUSE-SWAP LISTING
Our new free service lets you find or list a
home for a house-swap:
http://www.ireland-information.com/irelandhouseswap.htm
NEW COATS OF ARMS ADDED TO THE GALLERY:
The following 5 coats of arms images and family
history details have been added to the Gallery:
C: McClean
H: Hampsey
I: McIntyre
V: Vance, Vaughan
View the Gallery here:
http://www.irishsurnames.com/coatsofarms/gm.htm
THE PERFECT WEDDING, ANNIVERSARY OR BIRTHDAY GIFT!
We now have over 100,000 worldwide names available.
Get the Coat of Arms Print, Claddagh Ring,
Screensaver, Watch, T-Shirt Transfer or Clock for
your name at:
http://www.irishnation.com/familycrestgifts.htm
===========================================
EXTRACT FROM 'THE DIARY OF A SCULLERY MAID'
by Joe Rogers
===========================================
This is extract from my book set in the early
1900s when recruiting for the GAA was in full
swing leading on to the formation of the Irish
Republican Brotherhood and the 1916 Dublin Rising.
Joe Rogers
===
The colours of a June evening set fire to the
landscape as fiery orange hues ignited the sky,
clearing the last clouds from the simmering
Slieve Bloom Mountains and replacing them with
pigments of purplish pink. The year was 1901 and
here and there towards the high moors tree tops
glinted in the sinking sun but the people entering
Ballyfin's community hall paid scant attention to
nature's magnificent work of art. They were much
more concerned with what had been billed as an
opportunity to meet neighbours, partake of an
evening's jollification and enjoy a little repose
from the usual bustle and preoccupations of
everyday life.
Scarcely were they all seated when the honourable
branch secretary, Ralph Downey, nervously
transferring the weight of his ample form from
one foot to the other, declared,
'Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of Ballyfin
Cumann I bid ye welcome, and it gives me great
pleasure, so it does, to see such a great turnout.
As ye know there'll be a few drinks and a bite to
eat later, and the floor will be cleared and made
ready for the dancing, so it will. But right now,
I want to introduce ye to someone who has come to
Ballyfin this evening to honour us with his
presence. Ladies and gentlemen, put your hands
together for the man from headquarters himself,
Commandant Herbert Hume.'
Coming briskly forward, Herbert joined the
rostrum, shook the departing Ralph Downey's hand,
bowed to the audience and adopting a wry smile,
glanced slowly around the packed hall. Having
associated from an early age with performers and
performances, he had that unique accomplishment
of being able to convince his listeners that each
and every one of them was a personal friend and
individually very important to him.
'I am delighted to see you here,' he enthused, his
eyes seeming to search out each person in turn.
'My dear friends ....you ....and you ....and you,'
he said, being careful to glance north, south,
east and west of the rostrum so that no corner of
the hall was missed, 'believe me when I tell you
there is noone I'd rather see and noone else in
the whole, wide world would suffice  as the
devil's envoy said when he came for Doctor Faust.'
Peels of laughter greeted his witticism as the
listeners warmed to the man from Dublin whom most
of them knew to be a disciple of the militant
socialist, James Connolly, and an ardent
enthusiast for all things Irish.
'Bail o Dhia oraibh go leir agus cead mile failte
romhat,' (God's blessing on all of you and a
hundred thousand welcomes) he welcomed them in
Irish and then continued in English,
' I think you'll agree with me when I say how
very salubrious the language of our fathers'
sounds.'
There were nods of agreement all around and a lady
near the front called out,
'Agus ta failte romhat freisin.' (And you are
welcome too).
'Go raibh maith agat,' (Thank you) he smiled his
thanks before continuing in a more serious vein.
'I'd like to speak to you, if I may, about this
slave nation of ours  Ireland  and the chains
that have bound it for seven-hundred years, and
how we intend to set about breaking those chains.'
His eyes, perpetually in motion, wandering the
hall, paused briefly to bid welcome to Helen and
Arthur Morrison seated together three rows from
the front, and very pleased he was to see them.
'Let me remind everybody here how the Irish
language has been oppressed during the last two
centuries, with English taking over as the
official language of church and state. Nowadays,
the famine gets the blame for the demise of
Irish, but the fact is that for fifty years
before the famine the decline was already under
way. Emigrants to America or Britain soon
discovered that if they were to succeed in their
new surroundings, they would have to embrace
English. The Catholic Church  back in the
eighteenth century  installed English as the
first language of its new Maynooth seminary. Even
Daniel O'Connell, the Liberator, born and reared
among Irish speakers, disassociated himself from
the language when he said 'I am sufficiently
utilitarian not to regret its gradual passing.'
All his work for Catholic emancipation and the
repeal of the union with Britain  the mass
meetings, the general agitations  all carried out
in English even though the first language of many
present was Irish. A major factor in the decline
was that from 1830 onwards  almost twenty years
before the Famine  primary education in Ireland
decreed that to make every student a happy
'English' child  the teaching of English to Irish
pupils must be intensified.
Herbert paused to take a drink of water, more than
pleased that his listeners were paying attention,
and continued.
'Yes, my friends, you heard correctly  a happy
English child! Proves how arrogant our conquerors
are to deny us our separate identity in this land
of slaves, as Dean Swift called us. Which is
exactly what we are ...and so often dehumanized by
our masters. We have all seen the cartoons in the
English press making us out as fools with pig-like
features. And so many times when they have likened
us to animals. Charles Kingsley was, in his own
words, 'haunted by the human chimpanzees' he saw
in what he termed a horrible country, and went on,
'I don't believe they are our fault ...they are
happier, better, more comfortably fed and lodged
under our rule than they ever were.'
Thomas Carlyle, on a visit to Westport in County
Mayo, called the workhouse there the acme of human
swinery - and to Carlyle's friend, James Froude,
our fellow countrymen and women were more like
tribes of squalid apes than human beings. And what
did Major-General Gordon  otherwise known as
Chinese Gordon  think of us? He thought we were
in a worse state than any other people in the
world, living on the verge of starvation in
places where they would not keep their cattle.'
Herbert  his knuckles white where he gripped the
rostrum  paused for a moment, then having wiped
his brow, resumed, anger highlighting his tone.
'Well then, that's all we are to them  swine,
chimpanzees, squalid apes, cattle. Their words,
ladies and gentlemen, not mine. They all think
of us as less than human.
Yet none of them dared mention the monuments
created during the seven-hundred years of
English rule. Convict ships, evictions,
workhouses, famine, death, coffin ships.
No mention of those. Only lies! Lies dating back
to our conquest in an effort to justify it  we
were nothing short of barbarians and savages,
while they, the conquerors were civilized people.
But we are not deceived by such lies! For let us
ask ourselves, which of these Islands became the
Island of Saints and Scholars?
Loud applause and cries of 'Ireland greeted these
remarks, and Herbert, taking heart, continued.
'Friends, there is a new determination abroad in
the land which has been best described as the
onward march of the nation. New recruits are
flocking to our banner - clubs and associations
across the country are flourishing - the Gaelic
League, from two-hundred branches six years ago,
has now grown to six hundred, which I am delighted
to say is typical of other affiliated groups. With
this encouraging news I am delighted to tell you
that we have reached a decision  at the highest
level I might add  to arm ourselves forthwith
and take back the nation they stole!'
The hush that had gripped the hall was suddenly
rent asunder by loud cheering as Herbert's words
struck home. Then as the cheers subsided, he
continued.
'I implore any of you who have not already listed,
to join here tonight. Home Rule is not going to
happen and even if it did make its way to the
statute book, it would not give us the Republic
we want and are prepared to fight for.
===
The above is taken 'The Diary of a Scullery Maid',
a historical novel by Joe Rogers which recounts
in graphic detail the excesses of the British
Empire leading up to the Irish Fight for Freedom.
Get your copy from here:
http://www.joerogers.co.uk/synopsis.html
==========================
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==========================
=============================================
THE ORIGIN OF IRISH WHISKEY AND OTHER MATTERS
=============================================
by J Herbert Silverman
The Irish have a unique way of recalling past
glories. They create whiskey, proceed to brew
beer and then name the results after glorious
battles, famous men and enduring castles.
Following tradition, one should raise a glass
of Irish whiskey (uisce beatha or water of
life) or down a pint of stout during
celebrations of St. Patrick's Day. But then
learn something more about Ireland's mostly
unsung heroes by investigating the lives of
the colorful personalities behind the
founders' names.
Example: according to Irish whiskey lore,
monks learned the art of distillation from
missionaries who had served in the Middle
East where they had been busily engaged in
spreading Christianity to the infidel. Along
with those pioneers it was said that St.
Patrick deserves some of the credit for
spreading the distilling technique.
Never a saint but a mere bishop, Patrick was
antedated by one of Ireland's greatest heroes,
Brian Boru, the High King of Eire, whose memory
is preserved today by newcomer Boru Vodka, a
five-times distilled premium spirit from Dublin.
That legendary hero led the Irish to defeat
Viking invaders in 1014 at the Battle of
Clontarf a monumental victory which unified
Ireland 1000 years ago and also became another
proud piece of Irish history. This unforgettable
battle was honored centuries later in the form
of a spirit named called Clontarf Irish Whiskey.
The Battle of Clontarf (Cath Chluana Tarbh) took
place on Good Friday 1014(April 23rd) between the
forces of Brian Boru and those led by the King of
Leinster, Mael Morda mac Murchada: mainly his own
men as well as Viking mercenaries from Dublin and
the Orkney Islands led by his cousin Sigtrygg, It
ended in a rout of the Mael Morda's forces, along
with the death of Brian, who was killed by a few
Norsemen who were fleeing the battle and stumbled
upon his tent.
In their debacle, the Vikings would turn to
England and Scotland, eventually taking power when
Canute the Great was installed as King in 1015.
'We named our super premium vodkas as a tribute
to Brian Boru,' said distillery spokesperson
Roseann Sessa. She added patriotically, 'His bold
attitude and uncompromising spirit are attributes
that underscore our own brand profiles.'
Over the centuries, myth has been replaced by real
people. Ireland's contribution to man's well being
got off to a flying start in 1608 when Sir Thomas
Phillips, the king's deputy at the plantation of
Ulster, was granted the world's first license to
distill whiskey by James I.
He chose a site in the tiny village of Bushmills
along the waters of St. Columb's Rill between
Tara, the ancient royal capital of Ireland, and
Dunseverick, a great pre-Christian fortress on
the River Bush. By coincidence, Sir Thomas
happened to be the local licensing authority in
County Antrim.
In 1780, one John Jameson arrived in Ireland to
start up a distillery on Bow Street, Dublin, thus
creating an infusion of Highland expertise. His
career was aided by his marriage to Margaret Haig,
a member of the illustrious Scots whisky family.
'Old John', as he was known, created not only a
majestic brand but also generations of Jamesons
to come with his progeny of 16 children. Proof
positive of the family's social position is the
extensive listing today in the annals of Burke's
Irish Family Record, the closest thing there is
to a blue book of Irish high society.
James Power, an innkeeper from Dublin established
his John's Lane Distillery in 1791. At the turn
of the 19th century James' son John joined the
business, and the company ultimately became known
as John Power & Son.
By 1823, with the help of a 500 gallon still, the
annual output had grown to 33,000 gallons. A
decade later, this had increased tenfold to
approximately 330,000 gallons per annum. As the
distillery grew so, too, did the stature of the
family. John Power was knighted and later made
High Sheriff of Dublin.
Power is known for two innovations.
===
This article is continued in the online
edition of this newsletter:
http://www.ireland-information.com/aug08.htm#article

In 1866, the distiller began bottling its own whiskey, Until then, distilleries usually sold whiskey by the cask. A gold label adorned each bottle and it was from these that the whiskey got the name Powers Gold Label.

James Power's son achieved a kind of immortality in the world of drinking by inventing the "miniature" whiskey bottle, calling it the "Baby Power." The concept of the miniature was simplicity itself. John Power reasoned that Irish women would form a new market for his distillate. But custom dictated that women could enter a pub only via a "snug" an enclosed area separated from the bar and that had obvious limitations. He also believed that since Irishmen rarely, if ever, stocked whiskey at home preferring to drink with their cronies in pubs, women were being dealt "a bad hand."

By creating the "miniatures," he enabled the countryman with the ability to provide for his wife without being spied upon by the neighbors who could clearly identify a large, obviously visible bottle.'

Tullamore Dew was first distilled in 1829 Created in Tullamore, County Offaly, by one Michael Malloy. Today, it is the only Irish whiskey packaged in a handsome"jar" or ceramic crock (as well as glass) and reminiscent of the days when it was a "standard" fireplace ornament.

Eventually the distillery passed to a grandnephew, Captain Bernard Daly. Since the officer had most of his time was taken by such interests as horseracing, in turn he passed the mantle to an employee D.E. Williams, who used the acronym of his initials for an early and memorable advertising slogan "Give Every Man His Dew."

In the waning years of the last century, the late American spirits importer, Sidney Frank became fascinated with a movie about the Irish patriot Michael Collins, the iconic leader of the forces in the 1921 Civil War. With the permission of the patriot's descendants, Frank launched its Michael Collins Irish Whiskey with a picture of the War of Independence veteran on the label.

Introduced last year in the U.S., to date, more than 50,000 cases of the whiskey have been sold since the launch. Made at the independent Cooley Distillery in the outskirts of Dublin, the bottle features a copy of Collins' signature from the 1921 Treaty on the bottle neck.

Collins was one of the most prominent IRA leaders during the War of Independence. He signed the treaty with the British government which led to the creation of the Irish Free State but split the republican movement. In agreeing to the treaty, Collins famously said he was "signing my own death warrant." His eventual assassination, during the subsequent civil war, saw him become one of Irish nationalism's most famous figures.

One doesn't have to confine nomenclature to mankind. Take Tyrconnell, named after a horse that won the 1876 Queen Victoria Plate at 100 to 1 odds.

New to the American market it is one of two Irish malts produced by the Cooley Distillery..
Actually, Tyrconnell was an ancient kingdom of Ireland. Conall Gulban, a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, king of Ireland, acquired the wild territory in the northwest of Ulster (the modern Co. Donegal), and founded the kingdom about the middle of the 5th century. Of the several branches of his family, the O'Connells, O'Cannanans and O'Dohertys may be mentioned. The kings of Tyrconnell maintained their position until 1071.

A potable is also be memorialized as a swan by the poet William Butler Yeats who wrote The Wilde Swans at Coole: "The trees are in their autumn beauty/The woodland paths are dry/Under the October twilight the water/Mirrors a still sky; Upon the brimming water among the stones are nine-and-fifty swans."

Now the 60th swan exists in the persona of Coole Swan, an expensive and handsomely bottled cream liqueur just introduced to America.

Ireland is noted for the beautiful castles that reside in the countryside, among them, the magnificent Knappogue Castle, in County Clare which also lends its name to a vintage single malt.

Built in 1497 by Sean MacNamara, Knappogue Castle has a long and varied history, serving from battlefield to dwelling place. In 1571 Knappogue became the Seat of the MacNamara Clan who actually descended from Brian Boru. In fact, one of the castle's stained glass windows features the legendary high king. The bar pours Knappogue single malt.

Over time, the castle exchanged hands many times, and after falling to disrepair in the 1920s, it was later purchased and restored by Mark Edwin Andrews and his wife of Houston, TX. During this time Andrews began buying casks of fine pot still whiskey from the top distilleries in Ireland. He aged and bottled them under the Knappogue Castle label.. His last batch of Knappogue 1951 is now the oldest and rarest Irish whiskey.

By 1966, the leading whiskey families in Ireland, decided to amalgamate as Irish Distillers Ltd., in order to end financially expensive competition and to join in a mutual fight to regain what they regarded as a fair share of the American market.

Some years ago, in the world-wide takeover trend of privately-held companies, France's Pernod Ricard acquired the group, and ownership passed into foreign hands for the first time in history. The contemporary distillery is located in rural Midleton, Co. Cork and is considered the world's largest.

Turning away from spirits and towards beer, The Irish might be considered far sighted. What other country in the world would welcome a man so sure of his product that in 1759 he would sign a 9,000 lease for a brewery along the River Liffey in Dublin. His prescience has been justified.

That man, of course, was Arthur Guinness who came to Ireland from England with a 100- pound legacy from the Archbishop of Cashel scarcely a fortune even in those days to set up his good works. Today, the once family-owned business is part of the giant Diageo spirits group still producing stout and lager. More than 10 million glasses of Guinness beer are poured every single day around the world, and 1.8 billion pints are sold every year.
The beer is available in well over 100 countries worldwide and is brewed in almost 50.

Although it was sold by Diageo some years ago, the Guinness Book of Records, now called the World Record Book adds to the luster of the brewery and contains an internationally recognized collection of world records. The book itself holds a world record, as the best-selling copyrighted series.

By way of background. In 1951, Sir Hugh Beaver, then the managing director of the Brewery, went on a shooting party in the North Slob,alongside the River Slaney in County Wexford.. He became involved in an argument: which was the fastest game bird in Europe, the golden plover or the grouse?

That evening at Castlebridge House, he realized that it was impossible to confirm in reference books whether or not the golden plover was Europe's fastest game bird. Beaver thought that there must be numerous other questions debated nightly in the 81,400 pubs in Britain and Ireland, but there was no book with which to settle arguments about records. He realized then that a book supplying the answers to this sort of question might prove popular. One thousand copies were printed and given away. The first 198-page edition was bound in 1955 and went to the top of the British best seller lists by Christmas. "It was a marketing give away-it wasn't supposed to be a money maker," said Beaver. The following year it was launched in the U.S., and it sold 70,000 copies. After the book became a surprise hit, many further editions were printed, eventually settling into a pattern of one revision a year.

The Welsh have their own saint and saint's day, March 1, and their own whisky. But ironically Penderyn single malt is named after Saint David or Dewi Sant, the patron saint of Wales who drank nothing but water. And in fact Dewi is known in Welsh as David the water drinker.

Dewi died in the sixth century, so nearly five hundred years elapsed between his death and the first manuscripts recording his life. Dewi is said to have been of royal lineage. His father, Sant, was the son of Ceredig, who was Ddyfrwr s prince of Ceredigion, a region in Southwest Wales. His mother, Non, was the daughter of a local chieftain. Legend has it that Non was also a niece of King Arthur.

Sometimes Dewi as a self-imposed penance would stand up to his neck in a lake of cold water, reciting Scripture. Little wonder, then, that some authors have seen Dewi as an early Puritan!

J Herbert Silverman

=============================================
MOTHER MOORE AND HER SUMMERHILL DRAINAGE GANG
by Pat Watson
=============================================
Foreword:
Patrick Donnellan who was known as 'Sonny Donlon'
told this story and was the last survivor of the
group who dug the drain. He died in 1998.
===
Her vocation was to serve, to care for one child or another
But fate just intervened and she wound up Reverend Mother.
When a legacy came to her, a vow of poverty she'd made
She could not take the money; she had a problem it was said.
Then she had a great idea, a vision if you will
She'd use up all the money to drain old Summerhill.
It was in the hungry thirties and the peasantry was poor,
She'd pay them well for digging, this wonder Mother Moore.
And while they did the digging she'd teach them how to pray,
They'd get salvation, education and a half a crown a day.
She did her own recruiting, twelve strong young men and true,
Neither jury nor apostles, but a good hard working crew.
Paddy Dwyer and Bill Colleran were half the men from Drum,
Christy Jarrett and James Lennon made up the full foursome.
Cornafulla's Jack McManus and Pa Colleran, Kielty's, man
With all the rest from Crannagh, I'll name them if I can.
Sonny Donlon, Richard Higgins, and Jack Harney all were there,
Mickey Murray, Patrick Harney and Tom Curley of red hair.
Two of those men were carters, who got an extra bob a day
Mickey Murray and Jack Harney, they drew all the stuff away.
Mickey Murray had a jennet, Big Jack a clydesdale mare
They both received a shilling; Jack said it wasn't fair.
But the Mother interjected, "don't crib about the pay,
It was a cousin of the jennet, our Saviour rode palm day".
They started work at eight; each answered the roll call
Christy Jarrett led the prayers; answered fervently by all.
And when the prayer was ended; the Mother she would say
I want an honest day of work for the honest way I pay.
The mother she would urge them, to work with all their will
And sometimes she would call, work faster, faster still.
On the south side of the building,
at the entrance to the school
What was once a cool spring pond was now a stagnant pool.
To get this water flowing, round to the bull field drain
A trench they'd have to dig, through very rough terrain.
Full five feet deep and four feet wide,
they'd have to dig this drain
Worked by just tools of hand, with muscle brawn and strain.
The gravel was rock hard, the boulders tons in weight
Yet progress fast was made the effort was so great.
From eight to twelve each day,
there was neither stop nor stay,
Till twelve bells gave the summons,
to wipe their brow's and pray.
They prayed with great devotion, slow, reverend and devout,
For men who are work weary, will stretch the least timeout.
They worked in every weather, rain, frost or snow or sun
Yet not a single day was missed by Mother Moore the nun.
When falling stone crushed big Jack's toe
he winced in searing pain
And uttered words so loud and clear and just somewhat profane.
Then Mother said,
'Hell waits for those who utter words like that'
Jack muttered low beneath his breath,
'Sure hell is where we're at'.
When standing on the bank one day, above the toiling men
The earth gave way beneath her feet and she just tumbled in.
Pat Harney then and Sonny rushed up to give her aid
Imagine then their great surprise when Reverend Mother said,
"Just hand me here the ladder and don't you stand about"
Though dirty wet and injured, she quickly clambered out.
At last they got the great drain dug, and water flowed so free,
They lined it all with large flagstones- it was a sight to see.
And ever since it worked so well that all the yard stayed dry,
And children play and skip around and never once think why.
Now that the group have all aspired, to heaven's sweet refrain,
I wonder if they think at all of Summerhill's 'auld' drain.
===
'Mother Moore and her Summerhill Drainage Gang'
is one of sixty lyrical yarns from
'Original Irish Stories' by Pat Watson,
Creagh, Bealnamulla, Athlone, Ireland.
First published in March 2006.
Get your copy from here:
http://www.myirishstories.com
==========================
KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER ALIVE!
Visit: http://www.irishnation.com
==========================
==========================
THE HISTORY OF IRISH SIGNS
==========================
The tradition of hanging signs inside and outside
pubs is well established in Ireland but dates back
to the fourteenth century when the English King
Richard II decreed that landlords were compelled
to place signs outside their commercial
establishments, pubs, hotels, etc. Irish public
houses did not comply as readily as their English
counterparts and often the name of the owner alone
adorned the tavern front. Irish pubs also acted as
'spirit grocery' shops and some even acted as
insurance agents and undertakers, a tradition
which can still be found in some Irish towns in
Ireland today. Signs began to develop and became
more elaborate and decorative.
Many of the earliest signs would not have included
any text as the majority of the population were
illiterate. Symbols and pictures were thus used to
illustrate the function of the business displaying
the sign. In latter years the name of the landlord
was added. It was not uncommon (and is not
uncommon in Ireland in modern times) for public
houses to display the family coat of arms either
on their pub-sign, or on the window of the
establishment. Great battles and historical events
also proved popular subjects for both pub signs as
well as for naming the public house in question.
Heroes of Irish literature such as Yeats, Kavanagh,
Shaw, Joyce and Beckett also provide a great
source of pub naming and signage.
A fine example of this naming tradition is the
'Bleeding Horse' pub which is located on Camden
Street in Dublin city centre and dates from 1649.
One explanation of the name is that horses used to
be 'bled' after arriving at this stopping point as
a means of reducing their blood pressure and
calming them after their journey. Another legend
relates to the 1649 Battle of Rathmines when
injured horses were put to death nearby after the
battle. A further explanation of the name tells
how a bleeding horse wandered into the tavern
after the Battle.
The tradition of Irish pub signs was brought to
the new world during the mass emigrations of the
nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The
subjugation of the Irish people in certain eras
is also evidenced by the use of (by now infamous)
derogatory signs such as 'Help Wanted - No Irish
Need Apply!'. Many of the modern Irish signs
outside of Ireland reflect the tradition of the
emigrants and can display a certain amount of wit
or sentimentality. Shamrocks and Harps, the great
symbols of Ireland, are often found on such signs.
===
We are delighted to announce the availability of
new hand-crafted and personalised Irish signs.
Our Wood Signs are based upon late 19th century
designs when use of text oriented trade and pub
signs were at their height. While the signs are
brand new, they conform in shape and lettering
style to that of old time signs. To complete the
look, all of the signs are given a hand rubbed
stain to 'age' the sign appropriately.
Don't wait until Christmas week to order!
http://www.irishnation.com/irishsigns.htm
==================
IRELAND HOUSE-SWAP
==================
We had a great response to our article about
house-swapping which you can view in last
months newsletter:
http://www.ireland-information.com/jul08.htm
We are working on the online program to allow you
to freely add and view details of other people who
are interested in this service.
You can add your home-swap details to our new free
listing service at:
http://www.ireland-information.com/irelandhouseswap.htm
==========================
KEEP THIS NEWSLETTER ALIVE!
Visit: http://www.irishnation.com
==========================
===========================
GAELIC PHRASES OF THE MONTH
===========================
PHRASE: Bi ciuin! Ta tinneas cinn orm.
PRONOUNCED: bee quewn! Taw tinniss kinn urm
MEANING: Be quiet! I have a headache.
PHRASE: Is cuma liom!
PRONOUNCED: is cumma lum
MEANING: I dont care!
PHRASE: Go hifreann leat!
PRONOUNCED: Guh hee-fran lath
MEANING: To hell with you!
View the archive of phrases here:
http://www.ireland-information.com/irishphrases.htm
=================================================
SHAMROCK SITE OF THE MONTH CELTICATTIC.COM
==========================
Shop online for everything you need to decorate
your home and life with a Celtic Twist: Art,
Crafts, Irish & Scottish Baskets, Suncatchers,
Wind-Chimes, Music and Celtic Gifts. We offer a
delightful variety of Celtic Jewelry: Pendants,
Crosses, Rings, Hair Ties & more. All your
Irish Bath, Beauty and Herbal needs are in one
convenient location! The Majority of our products
are Irish, Scottish, Welsh made.
http://www.celticattic.com
Phone orders 360-765-0186
=========================
AUGUST COMPETITION RESULT
=========================
The winner was: kate.m.mcdermott@saint-gobain.com
who will receive the following:
A Single Family Crest Print (decorative)
(US$19.99 value)
Send us an email to claim your print, and well
done! Remember that all subscribers to this
newsletter are automatically entered into the
competition every time.
=================================================
I hope that you have enjoyed this issue.
Until next time,
Michael Green,
Editor,
The Information about Ireland Site.
http://www.ireland-information.com
Click here to contact us